The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The transmission marks the next stage of the constitutional alteration process and was carried out by the Clerk to the National Assembly pursuant to a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the Bill was transmitted to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday, September 16, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Section 9 of the Constitution provides, among other requirements, that a Bill seeking to alter its provisions shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The Clerk urged the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion of their deliberations.
Ogunlana noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the State Houses of Assembly are required to communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.
However, he said that, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt.
He clarified that the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
The National Assembly also recognised the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and said it respects their independence in considering the Bill.
According to the statement, the transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state legislatures’ constitutional role in the alteration process.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature,” the statement said.
The National Assembly said that upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, it would proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
The transmission of the Bill to the 36 state legislatures marks a further stage in the constitutional alteration process, with the state assemblies now expected to consider the proposed amendments and communicate their positions to the National Assembly.
